Ban Ki-moon shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin

MOSCOW, March 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia has always supported the United Nations’ central role in global affairs, President Vladimir Putin told a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday.

“We as one of the founders of the United Nations have always, regularly and consistently supported central role of the United Nations in global affairs. We highly appreciate your efforts in resolving the current conflicts in the world and your role, positive and very effective,” he said.

President Vladimir Putin meets UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon March 20 to discuss the latest events in Ukraine and Russia. Ban Ki-moon will try to launch a direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine during his visits to Moscow and Kiev on March 20-21, his spokesperson Farhan Haq said ahead of the trip.